With its inclusion in the new FedEx Cup playoff series, the Deutsche Bank Championship at the Tournament Players Club of Boston in Norton has become a major player on the PGA Tour.

By Bob DiCesare

NORTON - It's taken just five short years, but Seth Waugh is relishing the fact that his vision has come to fruition.

With its inclusion in the new FedEx Cup playoff series, the Deutsche Bank Championship at the Tournament Players Club of Boston in Norton has become a major player on the PGA Tour.

Holding the No. 2 slot in the FedEx Cup rotation, the Deutsche Bank Championship has evolved into a bonafide 'Who's Who' of golf greats coming to Norton this week.

And it all goes back to Waugh, the CEO of Deutsche Bank in the Americas, holding firm to his vision about the Deutsche Bank Championship and its relationship with the PGA Tour.

"When we talked five years ago, we said we don't want to be another week on Tour, we want to be a special week," said Waugh. "Every year, we have looked at the situation, what worked and what didn't work, how do we raise the bar, and tried to optimize the experience for the players, the fans, the charities, everybody around it. The culmination of that is now upon us."

With each passing year, DBC officials appreciate the fact that the tournament's final round is on Labor Day for the only scheduled Monday finish on the PGA Tour.

They're also thankful that the world's best player, Tiger Woods, is a virtual certainty to appear at the TPC Boston, thanks in part to the chief charitable beneficiary being the Tiger Woods Learning Center.

"We meant what we said five years ago," said Waugh. "We're committed to Boston and committed to making it a special Labor Day event, and we're raising the bar (FedEx Cup). It's a brand we've created around that date." This year, two major milestones have been achieved which should have an immediate impact on the tournament.

The first was a major makeover to the golf course performed by architect Gil Hanse, who needed to make a modern course look more like a classic New England layout.

The course has been shortened from 7,488 yards to 7,257 yards, with the highlights being the par-4 fourth hole going from a 436-yard dogleg right to a straight, driveable par-4 of 298 yards and the par-3, 16th hole reduced from 211 yards to 161 yards.

Also, the number of bunkers was reduced from 103 to 52 and have a more natural, less-groomed appearance, chocolate drop-like mounds were added in places, and ridges were created on fairways to force players to visualize more shots from landing areas.

Hanse oversaw a six-month project that began last December, which included the use of temporary lights for evening work until 8 p.m. and he borrowed elements from classic courses such as Myopia Hunt Club, The Country Club, Kittansett Club, and Eastward Ho!, to create a layout that looks and feels more like New England.

"From a playability standpoint, these guys are so good, I'm skeptical that there's anything we can do from a physical standpoint to limit or restrict what they do," said Hanse. "What we really tried to concentrate on is the mental aspect of the game - trying to make them have to think significantly of different options and different ways to play golf holes."

"They needed to do that being a playoff event," said Woods during a media day conference call. "The caliber of golf course needed to improve and they've done that. They've tried to make this course and event first class."

The other element that should make a big impact is the elite playing field. After Sunday's first playoff series tournament, The Barclays in Harrison, N.Y., the top 120 players are eligible to come to Norton as the DBC draws an awesome list of players.

For starters, the winners of all four major championships will be present (Zach Johnson, Angel Cabrera, Padraig Harrington, and Woods). There's also Vijay Singh (2004 champion), another former champion Adam Scott (2003), and first-time appearances by Phil Michelson, Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els, and Retief Goosen.

"The field will be even deeper than it has been in the past," added Woods. "The event draws superb galleries, and now that it's a playoff event will certainly add to that this year. There's more at stake now."

"A lot of the buzz we've created has made it special," said Waugh. "We have an incredible field. Everybody wants to be the first guy to win the Cup. So we are very excited to be part of a mini-major, if you will, in terms of where it is."

Only daily tickets remain available for the DBC at the Tournament Players Club of Boston in Norton. Daily tickets for the practice rounds (Tuesday and Wednesday) and pro-am day (Thursday) are $20 and tickets for the competitive days (Friday-Monday) are $45. They can be purchased online at dbcchampionship.com or by calling 877-TIX-4DBC.